Higher and Higher we climb

We're back!  We had a fantastic six weeks at home visiting family and friends.  We even managed a biker rally in Banderas, Texas, close to San Antonio.  We can now cross that off the bucket list.  Sleeping in a tent, in 50 degree weather I have to admit was not that much fun.  However, the ride through hill country is beautiful.

The tent was furnished with an air mattress and one blanket!

Sign over the cash register were we stopped for breakfast.

We packed our bags with everything we could think of for our return to Ecuador.  Mostly boat parts and warm clothing.  The seasons here are opposite.  We went home for spring and would now be returning to winter.  It was quite difficult saying good-bye again.  As much fun as it is to travel it is very difficult to say good-bye to your family.

Eyes dried, we took out the travel itinerary for the next 15 days.  We landed in Quito around 10:30 p.m. caught a cab, found the hotel and crash landed.  It's close to 13 hours travel time from East Texas to Quito.  Then the altitude of ten thousand feet to adjust to again.  The itinerary was timed too close for much rest.  First thing on the list was to book our trip to the Amazon, then find a clinic to get a yellow fever vaccination.  We had tried to get one in the states but the pricing was outrageous.  We were able to get one in a private clinic for under $40 for both of us, plus they gave us an international health card, good for the rest of South America.  Back to the hotel to repack taking only our backpacks for the next few days.  (The hotel we were in had luggage storage available.)  Not sure if we were feeling jet lag or some effects from the vaccination, we were tired and opted for the restaurant next door to the hotel.  What a surprise!  A fabulous place serving Swiss cuisine and lovey red wine. We should have skipped the red wine.  Don looked up some of our symptoms on the internet when we returned to our room and we were not suppose to drink for 10 days after the vaccine.  OOPS! 

The following morning off to the bus station, destination Otavalo, a quaint little town known throughout the region for their Saturday market.  A short two hour bus ride we arrived just before lunch.  Fortunately the hotel allowed early check in and then suggested a restaurant.  Lunch done we found a taxi driver to take us to the "Condor Park" just a few miles up the mountain outside of Otavalo.  The Condor is the national bird of Ecuador and the park, according to the brochures, had a flying time at 4:30.  Pretty exciting, we were going to see this bird up close and in flight over a valley soaring from a small park on top of a mountain 11 thousand feet up.  Majestically owning the sky, catching the wind with an outstretched wing span of 9 to 10 feet.  (that's 2.5' to 3' taller than Captain Don) I was feeling the grandeur of it when we arrived at the gate only to be informed that they would not fly the birds that day because of the weather.  WHAT?  You've got to be kidding!  and some other things said we still entered the park.  Then it rained.  And rained.  And rained some more.  We scooted from cage to cage viewing, snapping pictures of what we could, but the condor did not come out of his cosy, dry home.  We did see some gorgeous birds including our national bird the bald eagle.  The most impressive for me was the harpy eagle.  

Harpy Eagle

Bald Eagle

Our taxi driver had waited, thank goodness.  Maybe he had been through this before, knowing that it wouldn't take more than 30 minutes to view the park in the rain.  A park employee must have felt bad for us because he brought us a very large umbrella to use during our visit.  Back down the mountain to Otavalo and the hotel, dry warm clothes and a nap!  It poured rained the rest of the day.   

Up early to the famed artisans market of Otavalo.  The cab driver  from the day before had suggested we first go the the animal market just on the other side of the bridge.  Taking his advice we headed there first.  Mud, poo, mud, poo, skinny cows, pigs on leashes, goats being herded, chickens and ducks held upside down by the feet, burlap sacks wiggling on the backs of the indigenous as they somehow made sense of the auctions taking place for the different species.  Horses looking bored, the people lively, animated, and some quite serious looking for just the right specimen.  Whether they were intent on eating their purchase or adding them to the farm stock I do not know.  It was enlightening to see this way of life.  Can you imagine going to an animal auction for your future dinner?  The funniest was the women haggling over the price of guinea pigs.  Guinea pigs are quite common in the Andes providing a high protein food that requires little care or feed and reproduces rapidly.  They call them "cuy". 

cuy for dinner?

animal market

Lunch?

We hoped as we were leaving to find a rain puddle with enough water to rinse our boots!  The artisans market was in full bloom when we arrived.  I say bloom because the colors were as vibrant as nature, a primary colors kaleidoscope surrounding the horizon.  Life buzzing, every one's finest being displayed.  The stalls decorated with fabrics, paintings, carvings, leather goods, pottery, beads, hats, blankets, hammocks, shoes, scarves, the list goes on. I didn't know where to begin.  There were rows and rows, street after street.  I wondered if this was where the retail stores in other parts of the country came to buy what they would resale.  I think maybe.  It soon started looking all alike.  

market

thread they make those wonder sweaters with

market


We walked away with another 100 pictures and a scarf! Time still left in the day we took a cab for a road trip of the area.  This led us to an area of legend covered with a spiritual shroud and snow.